The Return of Jake Slater by Zavo

Author:Zavo [Zavo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626392526
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2014-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Jake

“Hold your fire, stranger,” I hollered.

“Who the hell are you,” he bellowed, “and where’s Harry?”

“My name is Jake Slater. Harry and the boys have been gone since yesterday. I expect them back either today or tomorrow. I’m watching the place for them while they’re gone. Are you Samuel?”

“I am indeed. Come out here where I can see you,” he demanded.

I stepped onto the porch as the bear of a man dismounted. He scrutinized me from head to toe.

“What are you doing here, Jake Slater?”

I quickly explained to him what had happened on the train, and our subsequent ride to the hideout.

“So, you’re the new boy. I would have simply shot you right there and been done with it.”

I realized then I would never have a friend in Samuel. Not wanting to rile this big man, I nodded my head.

“I guess I need to stop leaving Harry alone. Is there anything to eat?”

“I can heat some stew for you.”

He grunted and tied his horse’s reins to one of the porch posts. He glared at me again then stomped up the stairs and came inside. He looked around the room as if he had expected it to have changed while he was gone. He went to the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. He obviously noted the low supply and looked at me with accusation in his eyes.

“I see you’ve kept yourself busy.”

“It’s lonely here when the gang is gone. You should know that better than me.”

He stared hard at me, trying to determine if there was an insult behind my remark. When he seemed satisfied there hadn’t been, I let out the huge breath I had been holding.

“I’ll be back with the stew in a moment.”

I went to the root cellar, which was simply a small nook in the rock wall where the water flowed into the pool. But it did keep food cold. I returned with the stew, emptied it into the kettle, and started a fire. While I stirred it, Samuel studied me with cold determination. When the stew was hot enough, I filled a bowl and placed it on the table in front of him.

He ate mechanically, not seeming to taste the food but simply eating because he needed to in order to survive. He had just finished and taken a hefty pull from the whiskey bottle, when the sound of horses reached us. They were moving fast. As Samuel stood, Harry burst through the door. He was quickly followed by Bobby and Cole.

“Samuel, you’re back.”

Samuel held his arms open and Harry rushed into them. They kissed deeply and passionately, ignoring me for the moment. Samuel finally pushed Harry to arm’s length.

“You look a little skinnier than when I left, Harry. You know I like more meat on your bones.”

“I know, Samuel. Times have been tough. The money never lasts, and the game around here is getting scarce. You know I can’t grow anything to save my life. We hit a string of real bad luck on this trip trying to pull a bank job, Samuel.

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